Tourist footfall rises

Silchar, Feb. 15: Mizoram, with its immense potential for eco-tourism, attracted a record number of foreign tourists last year, according to the state tourism department sources.

A senior official of the Foreigners Registration Cell under Mizoram police said last year, altogether 744 foreign tourists visited the state, 87 more than the arrival recorded in 2011.

Officials in the tourism department said tourists loved natural beauty of the state and the cane baskets and other handicraft that the Mizos churn out in plenty.

The state government has built many tourist resorts and guest houses to cope with the increasing numbers of tourists.The state now has 24 tourist-friendly circuit houses, inspection bungalows and guesthouses.

Moreover, the restrictions, which the Centre had clamped on the arrival of foreign tourists, are no longer in force.